The Los Angeles Lakers (3-0) visit the Phoenix Suns (2-1) on NBA Monday, tipping off at 10 p.m. ET from Phoenix, Arizona. The game is airing live on NBA TV and streaming on YouTube TV and other streaming apps.
The Suns (-4) and Lakers (+4) are even on the spread, with the over/under currently at 228 points. The Suns are -180 favorites on the moneyline to win outright, while the Lakers are +150 to pull off the upset.
Let's dive into my Lakers vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks for Monday, October 28.
Lakers vs. Suns Odds, Spread, & Total
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4 -110 | 228 -110o / -110u | +150 |
| Suns Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4 -110 | 228 -110o / -110u | -180 |
- Lakers vs. Suns spread: Suns -4
- Lakers vs. Suns over/under: 228 points
- Lakers vs. Suns moneyline: Suns -180, Lakers +150
- Lakers vs. Suns best bet: Suns -4
Spread
That this game sees a spread of less than one 3-point bucket shows how close it is expected to be. These are two teams that, while not favorites to come out of the West, fit into the next group of those who could make a run if things go well.
If you believe the Suns are going to come out on top, it will make sense to bet on the spread and not the moneyline, and that's where I land. Phoenix is better than the team that we remember flaming out last season, and playing at home will hand the Lakers their first loss.
Moneyline
Given the tight nature of the spread, the moneyline does not offer much for either team. The undefeated Lakers aren't necessarily a bad bet here, but they're underdogs for a reason.
Over/Under
If each team hits their season average of points, then this one will land right about on the O/U. The last game between these teams resulted in 229 combined points, so the over is certainly a tempting bet to make, especially given the amount of offensive firepower each team possesses.
My pick: Suns -2.5
Lakers vs. Suns How To Watch
| Location: | Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona |
| Date: | Monday, October 28 |
| Kickoff Time: | 10 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | NBA TV / Streaming on YouTube TV |
Suns vs. Lakers is scheduled for a 10 p.m. ET start time, live from Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday. The game is live on NBA TV and is streaming on YouTube TV.
Lakers vs. Suns Injuries
- Lakers F Christian Wood (knee) ruled out.
- Suns SG Bradley Beal (elbow) listed as questionable.
- Suns SF Josh Okogie (hamstring) ruled out.
Lakers vs. Suns Key Players to Watch
Los Angeles Lakers
The King. It all comes back to LeBron James. After being the powerful force to guide the Lakers to an overtime win over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, the answer is clear as day who will be needed to the man in charge for this NBA TV matchup against the Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix Suns
The veteran, Kevin Durant. After losing to the Lakers in the opening week of action, K.D. is sure to have payback on his mind as they play host this time around in Footprint Center. After coming off of a 32-point performance on Saturday, Durant is definitely the one to watch with aspirations to keep the hand hot on Monday night.
Lakers vs. Suns Prediction & Pick
My pick: Suns -4
A pair of veteran teams filled with superstars is squaring off in the desert as the Suns host the Lakers. The teams played a tight game just last week, with the Lakers storming back in the second half to win. The Suns are coming off a strong performance against the Mavericks and are primed to hand the Lakers their first loss of the season.
For all of your NBA bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NBA odds page.
Los Angeles Lakers: Can L.A. Stay Hot on the Road?
The Lakers come into this game a perfect 3-0 on the season, a record that includes a win over the Suns but does not involve any games on the road.
Not that playing away from home should be an issue for this veteran-led team, especially when its stars are healthy and playing great. Through three games, it has been Anthony Davis leading the way, with averages of 34 points, 11 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 blocks per game. He went off for 35 points with the help of 17 free throw attempts against the Suns last Friday, as Phoenix had no answer for the nine-time All-Star who has long been one of the most dominant bigs in the game.
Of course, Davis is paired with LeBron James, who is quietly averaging 23 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, incredible numbers when you consider he is just about two months shy of his 40th birthday. He scored 21 and dished out eight assists in the first meeting with the Suns and is coming off a down performance in a win over the Timberwolves.
The Lakers have the fifth-best offensive rating in the league because, along with Davis and James, they are getting strong contributions from Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and D'Angelo Russell, who average 18, 16.7 and 10 points per game, respectively. Rookie Dalton Knecht is averaging just under eight points per game in a reserve role.
Defensively, the Lakers are more or less average, and they play at a more middling pace. They are a top-five rebounding team in terms of rebound percentage and have assisted on nearly 67 percent of their makes while turning it over 12.7 times per game for first-year coach JJ Redick.
Phoenix Suns: Looking for Revenge
Another team with a first-year coach, the Suns, are led by Mike Budenholzer and so far, the early returns are more or less positive. Boasting a 2-1 record, Phoenix has been led by Kevin Durant. The veteran is averaging 28.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and making nearly three 3-point shots per game.
Devin Booker, another of the team's stars, is making 3.3 3s per game while scoring 19.7 points per outing. Durant and Booker combined for 53 points on 20-of-48 shooting in their loss to the Lakers, making 6-of-13 3s in the process.
Veteran Bradley Beal is the Suns' third-leading scorer, though he missed the team's last game (win over Dallas) with an elbow issue. He is averaging 19.5 points per game and scored 15 in the loss to L.A. while dishing out nine assists.
Phoenix comes into this game with the league's 14th-best offensive rating, assisting on 74.1 percent of their buckets and playing at a league-average pace.
A big part of that is Tyus Jones, a point guard who was signed in the offseason and is averaging 11 points along with a team-leading 6.3 assists per game. He is averaging less than one turnover per outing and along with Jusuf Nurkic (11 points), rounds out the team's double-digit scorers.
